[en] Nano-sized photocatalyst cerium oxide (CeO${}_2$) particles and activated carbon–cerium oxide (AC–CeO${}_2$) composite are prepared by facile hydrothermal technique. Their properties are analyzed by subjecting them to characterization techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared samples is monitored by UV–visible spectrophotometer. The PXRD, FTIR, Raman and EDX analyses confirm the formation of CeO${}_2$ nanoparticles. The PXRD studies revealed that the CeO${}_2$ nanoparticles and AC–CeO${}_2$ nanocomposite have face centered cubic structure. The average crystallite size of CeO${}_2$ nanoparticles and AC–CeO${}_2$ nanocomposite, estimated using Scherrer formula, is found to be 21 nm and 7 nm. The HRSEM images show that the CeO${}_2$ nanoparticles and AC–CeO${}_2$ nanocomposite have spherical morphology and some agglomeration. The HRTEM images strongly confirm spherical morphology of both CeO${}_2$ nanoparticles and AC–CeO${}_2$ nanocomposite. The particle size of the CeO${}_2$ nanoparticles and AC–CeO${}_2$ nanocomposite are in the size range 20–30 nm and 7–15 nm, respectively. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns reveal that both samples are polycrystalline in nature. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized CeO${}_2$ nanoparticles and AC–CeO${}_2$ nanocomposite is measured by degrading methylene blue dye under solar radiation. The photocatalytic activity study shows that the AC–CeO${}_2$ nanocomposite has a degradation efficiency of 94% in 1 h for methylene blue, which is remarkably high when compared to that of CeO${}_2$ nanoparticles.

[en] In the present work, ZnO nanostructured thin films were grown on glass substrates by a simple successive ionic layer absorption and reaction method (SILAR) process at relatively low temperature for its self cleaning application. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Photoluminescence (PL) spectra were used to characterize the prepared ZnO nanostructured film. XRD pattern clearly reviles that the grown ZnO nanostructure film reflect (002) orientation with c-direction. SEM image clearly shows the surface morphology with cluster of spindle and flower-like nanostructured with diameter various around 350 nm. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnO nanostructures film exhibit a UV emission around 385nm and visible emission in the range around 420-500 nm. Good water repellent behavior were observed for ZnO nanostructured film without any surface modification.

[en] Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructured seed layer was grown by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method on glass substrate. The as-prepared nanostructured seed layer was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) for its structure and surface morphology. XRD results showed (0 0 2) oriented ZnO seed layer growth. Surface morphology study revealed the cluster of ZnO nanocrystals with hexagonal shape. ZnO nanorods (NRs) have been grown over the as-prepared ZnO nanostructured seed layer using a simple chemical bath deposition (CBD) method by immersing seed layer substrate in a chemical bath. It has been found that the morphology of the nanostructured seed layer is a key influencing factor for the growth of vertical ZnO NRs. In our growth method, we were successful in growing vertical NRs with diameter of about 70-150 nm with perfect hexagonal shape. Photoluminescence (PL) and Raman studies were carried out to analyse the crystal quality of our as-grown ZnO nanorods.

[en] Highlights: • Bi₂S₃ nanowire/ITO photodiodes have been constructed. • V-I characteristics of the diode show a photocurrent efficiency of 12 folds to that in dark. • 1D Bi₂S₃ nanowires in the form of 2D thin films. • XRD peaks reveal orthorhombic structure with good crystallinity. -- Abstract: This work discloses the characteristics of a Bi₂S₃ nanowire / ITO photodiode and a manufacture method thereof; wherein, the high-crystalline Bi₂S₃ nanostructures were prepared by an environmental friendly dip-coating method onto Indium-doped Tin Oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates using bismuth nitrate and thiourea as raw material with DMF as solvent. The XRD spectra showed that the Bi₂S₃ nanowire exhibits orthorhombic structure, while the SEM images revealed the formation of uniform sized nanowires with diameter around 15.8 nm. The optical bandgap of the films had been estimated via Tauc plot and found to be in the range of 1.85–1.9 eV. In order to understand the I-V characterizations of the prepared diode showed prominent photo-response with a high photo-responsivity of 1.7 μA/cm² with a fast response time were reported in detail.